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This is the ninth and final installment in a position-by-position analysis of the Giants as they prepare for the draft:

Position: Secondary.

Depth chart: CB Corey Webster, CB Prince Amukamara, CB Aaron Ross, CB Jayron Hosley, CB Terrell Thomas, S Antrel Rolle, S Stevie Brown, S Will Hill, S Ryan Mundy, S Tyler Sash, CB Antonio Dennard, CB Buddy Jackson, DB Laron Scott, DB David Caldwell, DB Trumaine McBride, DB Terrence Frederick.

The departed: S Kenny Phillips (Philadelphia), CB Justin Tryon (free agent), CB Brian Witherspoon (free agent).

Scouting report: Webster needs a bounce-back season. According to ProFootballFocus.com, Webster’s eight touchdowns surrendered through the air were tied for second-most at his position.

Amukamara was solid last season and continues to look like a player who is steadily improving. Jerry Reese re-signed Ross to provide an experienced third cornerback although Hosley could compete for that spot as well. Thomas is attempting a third comeback from ACL surgery and will work as hard as anyone. But the Giants and Thomas must take things slow and whatever he can contribute should be a bonus.

The Giants let Phillips walk after seeing Brown lead the team with eight interceptions last year. With Phillips gone, Rolle’s status as a leader will increase even more. Reese added another young player with potential by signing Mundy to add depth. Hill flashed glimpses of being the athletic third safety Perry Fewell can use. Sash is a key special teams player and will push Mundy and Hill in camp.

The last time: The Giants drafted a defensive back in Hosley in the third round in 2012.

Potential targets: Since taking over as GM in 2007, Reese has drafted more defensive backs in the first round (Ross, Phillips and Amukamara) than any other position. While the Giants need an offensive lineman like Alabama's D.J. Fluker, it would not be a surprise to see Reese grab a safety at 19 if his top target is gone.

The Giants have a need for a safety in 2014. Phillips is gone, Brown is on a one-year tender and Rolle will be entering the final year of his deal in 2014. Drafting a safety high gives the Giants a safety to groom and insurance in case Brown isn't the answer or Rolle's contract ($7 million base salary for next season) becomes to big a burden on the cap (remember, the Giants want to sign Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz to extensions).

Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro is considered to be the best and the Giants like Vaccaro. The Giants need an offensive lineman but if their target is not there, they could go for Vaccaro. Vaccaro, though, may not not be there at 19. The Giants also like LSU’s Eric Reid. If Reese doesn't think Reid will be there in the second round, he could take the LSU safety in the first round if his other targets are gone.

If the Giants don't get one of those two safeties, Florida’s Matt Elam, FIU’s John Cyprien and South Carolina’s D.J. Swearinger are other safeties that could go in the second round.

Syracuse’s Shamarko Thomas, Fresno State’s Phillip Thomas and Georgia’s Bacarri Rambo could be mid-round options. Other possible safeties for later rounds are USC’s T.J. McDonald, Georgia’s Shawn Williams and Notre Dame’s Zeke Motta. California (Pa.) S Rontez Miles is on the Giants’ radar according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

The Giants definitely need another cornerback for depth and one who could be a potential starter or third corner for 2014 and beyond. Ross and Thomas are on one-year deals and, for all intents and purposes, so is Webster. The top corners are Alabama’s Dee Milliner, Washington’s Desmond Trufant and Houston’s D.J. Hayden. Milliner is not expected to be there at 19 but then again Amukamara dropped to Reese a few years back.

Trufant has reportedly had impressive showings at the combine and his pro day and Hayden’s stock reportedly is on the rise.

Other corners who could be available after 19 are Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes, Boise State’s Jamar Taylor, UConn’s Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks.

If the Giants opt to take a corner in the second-to-fourth-round range, the most intriguing name is LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu. The former Heisman candidate is a risk-reward case but the Giants have a built-in mentor in Webster. And Mathieu could help bolster the Giants’ return game. Another corner that might help with the return game is William and Mary’s B.W. Webb.

"I love B.W. Webb," NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said in a conference call. "Great feet, change of direction, competed at the Senior Bowl. I think what's going to keep him in the late second round discussion is his return skills. It's not a great punt return class, and he's one of the top three or four punt returners in the country."

Mississippi State’s Darius Slay, Southeastern Louisiana’s Robert Alford, Rutgers’ Logan Ryan, UConn’s Dwayne Gratz, USC’s Nickell Robey, Iowa’s Micah Hyde, Miami’s Brandon McGee and Michigan State’s Johnny Adams are other cornerback prospects for later in the draft.

But keep an eye on what the Giants do at safety in this draft and perhaps as early as 19 if an offensive lineman like Fluker is not available.

Need rating (scale of 1 to 10): 9.

This is the sixth installment in a position-by-position analysis of the Giants as they prepare for the draft:

Position: Special teams.

Depth chart: P Steve Weatherford, K Josh Brown, K David Buehler, P/K Jake Rogers, LS Zak DeOssie, KR David Wilson, KR Andre Brown, KR Jerrel Jernigan, PR Rueben Randle.

The departed: K Lawrence Tynes (free agent), PR Domenik Hixon (Carolina).

Scouting report: The Giants are solid at punter with Weatherford, who averaged 47.5 yards per punt last season and landed 22 of 58 punts inside the 20. Long snapper and special teams captain DeOssie adds stability and chemistry on special teams as well. But the unit will have a major change at kicker.

The Giants are moving on without Tynes, signing three other kickers (Brown, Buehler and Rogers). Brown is expected to be the man, but Buehler should have an opportunity to compete for the job. Brown, 33, has had a season-long field goal of 52 yards or longer in each of his 10 seasons, with a career long of 58 yards, which was during his rookie season in 2003. He has made 81.3 percent of his kicks and averages 64.1 yards on kickoffs.

Buehler averages 66.8 yards on kickoffs and made 24 of 32 field goals in 2010, his only season kicking field goals, for the Cowboys. He has a career long of 53 yards.

After kicker, the Giants have some uncertainty in their return game. Wilson was electric on kickoffs last season, amassing 1,533 return yards and one touchdown. But his workload at running back is going to increase, and the Giants have to consider how much they want to risk their prized running back on kickoffs. If they opt not to use him, the Giants could turn to Jernigan or Brown on kickoffs.

Randle averaged 7.2 yards per punt return last year. He could be the punt returner again. Jernigan is also an option here. Aaron Ross has return experience and could be in the mix if the Giants want to try somebody else. Also, cornerback Jayron Hosley was a punt returner at Virginia Tech.

The coverage teams were strong last year with the likes of DeOssie, Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger all contributing.

The last time: The Giants have not drafted a kicker or punter since 2010, when they took punter Matt Dodge in the seventh round.

Potential targets: Perhaps the most well-known prospect with dynamic return skills in the draft is LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate before being dismissed from LSU. The cornerback comes with baggage, but he would have a ready and willing mentor in Corey Webster, a former LSU star who already has taken Mathieu under his wing.

“On the field he is a good player,” general manager Jerry Reese said this week. “Obviously, he has got some off-the-field issues that have been well-documented. So we’ll put all the pros and cons together and see if he fits anywhere for us.”

The Giants could use a cornerback, and Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks is one of the top corners in the draft and also has a return touchdown on his résumé as well. Another potential top-10 cornerback is Southeastern Louisiana’s Robert Alford, who also has return experience. Texas A&M cornerback Dustin Harris led the country in punt return yardage, and Hawaii cornerback Mike Edwards returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last season.

Utah wide receiver Reggie Dunn might be the most explosive kick returner in the entire draft. The All-American returner, who was reportedly clocked at 4.2 in the 40 at Utah's pro day, has more 100-yard kickoff returns (5) than anybody else in NCAA history and had four last year alone. He sports a career average of 30.9 yards per kickoff return. The Giants could add one more receiver for depth as well.

Other prospects with return ability are Mississippi State wide receiver Chad Bumphis, Alcorn State wide receiver Terrance Lewis, UConn wide receiver Nick Williams, Central Arkansas wide receiver Jesse Grandy, South Carolina wide receiver Ace Sanders and NC State wide receiver Tobais Palmer.

Need rating (scale of 1 to 10): 4 (for a player with return ability).

Tell us what you think of the Giants' special teams entering the draft, and what they should do to improve.

At the end of the Giants' failed 2012 title defense, Jerry Reese made it clear that he felt the roster was not "that far off" from contending again.

But the disappointed general manager said his team "will look a little differently" in 2013. As the Giants near next week's draft, Reese's defense will definitely sport a different look.

Osi Umenyiora, Kenny Phillips, Chris Canty, Michael Boley and Chase Blackburn are gone.

Former Eagles Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson are now Giants run-stuffers. Dan Connor is projected to start at middle linebacker and Aaron Ross is back in the secondary.

Despite cap constraints, Reese made a concerted effort to try to fortify a defense that finished 31st overall and 25th against the run last season. That effort will continue next week when Reese will add more defensive players.

When Reese selected running back David Wilson and wide receiver Rueben Randle last year, it was the first time the Giants did not draft a defensive player in the first two rounds since 2004.

It would be a surprise if Reese goes offense again with his first two picks. While the Giants have a need at offensive line and could opt to take a lineman early, Reese can use another pass-rusher.

Umenyiora is gone and Justin Tuck is entering the final year of his deal. And we know how much Reese values his defensive ends and how he has no issue spending a first-round pick on one.

The Giants pick 19th overall and it remains to be seen what the caliber of defensive ends will be when Reese is on the clock.

Ends like BYU's Ezekiel Ansah and LSU's Barkevious Mingo are expected to be long gone. But Florida State's Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine, UCLA's Datone Jones, SMU's Margus Hunt and LSU's Sam Montgomery are among the defensive ends who could go in the first two rounds.

If Reese feels the quality of pass-rushers available at 19 are not that much better than what he might be able to get in the second round, the GM could opt to plug another area at 19.

The Giants are stocked at defensive tackle with Linval Joseph, Jenkins, Patterson, Shaun Rogers, Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn. But Reese has never been one to shy away from taking the best player available on his board, regardless of position, and the defensive tackle position is considered to be deep in this draft.

But Reese has other areas of concern on defense. The cornerback play was shaky last season and the future at the position remains a concern with Corey Webster, Ross and Terrell Thomas, who is making a third comeback from an ACL injury, all on one-year deals.

So drafting a cornerback, potentially high, to go with young corners Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley makes sense for the future. That's why Washington’s Desmond Trufant, who could be available at 19, is intriguing. Houston's D.J. Hayden, Boise State's Jamar Taylor, UConn's Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Florida State's Xavier Rhodes, Mississippi State's Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay all could be options in the first three rounds. And of course, there's LSU's Tyrann Mathieu, who comes with his share of talent and baggage.

The Giants will move forward this season at linebacker without Boley and Blackburn –- two players who helped the Giants win the Super Bowl in 2011 and were valuable extensions of Perry Fewell on the field in the past.

Fans will continue their annual call for Reese to add a stud linebacker early. Georgia's Alec Ogletree and Notre Dame’s Manti Te'o have been linked often by draft prognosticators to the Giants. But the franchise hasn't spent a first-round pick on a linebacker since selecting Carl Banks in 1984. So if the Giants opt to pass on linebacker in the first round, they could look to take one later in the draft.

The Giants seem set at safety for this season with Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown, Will Hill, Ryan Mundy and Tyler Sash. But Brown is playing this season on a one-year restricted free-agent tender and it is always possible Reese could draft a safety for the future with Phillips gone and Rolle's contract expiring after 2014.

On special teams, the Giants are moving on without Lawrence Tynes after signing kickers Josh Brown, David Buehler and kicker/punter Jake Rogers in the offseason. Punter Steve Weatherford and long-snapper Zak DeOssie return.

The Giants, though, can always use a dynamic punt returner and they could look to add a receiver or cornerback with return skills in the draft with Domenik Hixon gone. A returner on kickoffs also makes sense since Wilson's workload at running back will increase.

Tell us how you feel about the defense and special teams entering the draft.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz did not attend the first morning of the Giants' voluntary offseason workout program, as expected.

The Giants started Phase 1 of their offseason program, which is basically strength and conditioning and physical rehab. Cruz, a restricted free agent, was not in the building by 11:30 a.m., when the last workout was scheduled.

Cruz isn't missing much and the workout is voluntary. A league source told ESPN senior NFL insider Chris Mortensen last week that Cruz was not expected to attend this week's strength and conditioning workouts, but that could change if there is movement in Cruz's extension talks with the team.

Cruz wants a long-term extension and has not yet signed his one-year RFA first-round tender of $2.879 million. He can still participate in the offseason workout program if he chooses to.

Defensive captain Justin Tuck said last week that Cruz has to do what is best for him, but showing up this week could potentially be a positive in contract talks.

"I think the biggest way to get things settled is to be there in good faith, I guess," Tuck said at an NFL Play 60 event at P.S. 21 in Staten Island last week. "But I can't answer questions for Victor. He has to do what's best for him. And hopefully, when it's all said and done, he's doing a salsa in a Giants uniform this season. That's all I'm worried about."

Teams have until April 19 to make a contract offer to restricted free agents, but any team interested in signing Cruz to a lucrative contract would also have to be willing to part with a first-round pick. The Giants have the right to match; if they choose not to, they will be compensated with a first-rounder. Cruz is not expected to receive a contract offer from another team before the deadline.

Cruz worked out with Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks and Louis Murphy last week at Duke University when the Manning brothers gathered some of their receivers to train.

Cruz recently hired agent Tom Condon to negotiate an extension for him. Condon has a good working relationship with the Giants and represents Manning, Mark Herzlich and Mathias Kiwanuka.

Tuck, Nicks, Manning, Herzlich, David Wilson, Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Stevie Brown, Terrell Thomas, Jayron Hosley, Kevin Boothe, Justin Trattou, Zak DeOssie and Henry Hynoski were among the several Giants who were at the facility on Monday.

So, do you think it's a big deal whether Cruz shows up for voluntary strength and conditioning and rehab? Tell us below.

Todd McShay has been kind enough to present three scenarios for what the Giants could potentially do in the first round.

Here's McShay's scenarios for every team in the first round and what he thinks the Giants might do at 19:

19. D.J. Fluker
COLLEGE: Alabama
AGE: 21
HT: 6-4½
WT: 339
POS: OT

Scenario 1: The Giants aren't known for taking offensive linemen early, but Fluker would offer a boost up front with his balance, footwork and mauling presence in the running game.

Scenario 2: There is a need for more athleticism and cover skills at linebacker, and Georgia ILB Alec Ogletree could offer that if the Giants were to get comfortable with some of his off-field baggage.

Scenario 3: New York has some uncertainty at corner, and while Washington CB Desmond Trufant isn't the best in run support, he has the cover skills to contribute right away and already has a professional attitude.

Stats and Info: No team allowed a higher completion percentage or more yards per attempt last season on throws more than 10 yards downfield than the Giants. Trufant's 4.38-second 40-yard dash time was third best among defensive back prospects.

Our analysis: Fluker certainly helps the Giants address the future of the offensive line. Remember, Kevin Boothe and David Diehl are on one-year deals, and what happens if James Brewer is not the answer at right tackle? The Giants certainly can use a young talented offensive lineman for the future and depth for this season.

I believe that offensive line, pass rusher and cornerback are three areas the Giants need to address with an eye toward the 2014 season. They need to pick some talent they can groom to replace many guys that they have on one-year deals. Another pass rusher would be ideal with Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck entering the final year of his deal. But they shouldn't reach for one at 19 if they feel they can get a defensive end in the second round and the value is better to take the best player available on their board in the first round.

As for scenario No. 2, the Giants certainly can use a stud athlete no matter what the position, especially on defense to combat quicker quarterbacks. Ogletree helps in an area where they can use an upgrade at linebacker. The Giants, though, don't value linebacker as much as other positions like pass rusher and cornerback when it comes to first-round picks.

And that is why scenario No. 3 is plausible because the Giants have used first-round picks to improve the secondary. With Corey Webster, Aaron Ross and Terrell Thomas on one-year deals, the Giants need to add another cornerback for the future to go with Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley.

Let us know what you think of McShay's three scenarios for the Giants at 19 and what you want to see.

We had a lengthy Giants chat last week, including the usual comments from my favorite Wolverine fans/Sparty haters.

And even though we went easily for over an hour, there were still a lot of questions I didn't get to. So I'm answering a few I didn't get to last week:

Rich (nyc): Is there any truth to the rumors that San Fran is going to offer Cruz a contract?
OHM: I suppose you should never say never but I'd be surprised if someone made an offer by the April 19 deadline because of the cost of a first-round pick and a lucrative contract.

Jay (Virginia): What are your thoughts on Hosley this year? I was excited when we drafted him and expect him to develop into a solid starting CB with good ball skills.
OHM: I think he is a tough kid with some moxie. But I think for this season, he should compete with Aaron Ross to be the third corner behind Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara. Hosley might end up as the fourth corner but that doesn't mean the Giants are down on him. Hosley could be a year away from really contributing as a starter.

Andrew (Maryland): Alec Ogletree seems like he would be a great addition the the Giants' linebacker corps. Do you think they will avoid him in the draft because of his off-the-field issues?
OHM: Hard to say. I know a lot of fans want the Giants to take him but I just wonder about a couple of things. One, the Giants don't value linebackers enough to take them in the first round. Two, if the Giants took Ogletree, would he start? The Giants don't play a lot of their rookies early and I think they are going to start Jacquian Williams, Dan Connor and Keith Rivers while moving Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end. Whomever the Giants take in the first round, it is likely that guy is not going to start no matter what the position. But let's think about what position the Giants can draft at 19 that could play some this year but really have the biggest impact for 2014 and beyond. To me, it's pass rusher, offensive line and cornerback. Not doubting that the Giants need a linebacker for the future. They do. But my guess is the Giants value pass rusher, OL and secondary more for the first round.

Thomas (ny): What do you think with Cruz and Nicks both getting a long-term deal done and Justin to get a deal done next year and some other key players. Is it possible to even do?
OHM: We'll find out. Jerry Reese has been very savvy with the cap thus far. But keeping both receivers to lucrative deals is tricky. That is why you haven't seen the Giants lock down Cruz yet to a long-term extension. The Giants have a certain number in mind that they want to pay Cruz and Nicks and Nicks is likely the higher price. It's possible that the Giants' don't get extensions done with the two receivers until next season. Just saying, got to be patient. As for Justin Tuck, let's see how he does this season. If he has a bounce-back season like I think he can, things could get sticky for the Giants in trying to keep all these guys. And let's remember, eventually, down the road, the Giants will have to pay Jason Pierre-Paul too. That is why drafting a pass rusher makes sense to me to get another young defensive end under contract for a few more years.

Mel Kiper's latest mock draft still has the Giants filling two needs with their first two picks.

Todd McShay recently made his first two picks for the Giants. Now, it's Kiper's turn and he spoke about what the Giants may do in his mock draft and on a conference call this week:

19. Desmond Trufant
POS: CB
SCHOOL: Washington
HT: 6-0
WT: 190

KIPER: The Giants certainly can't assume Terrell Thomas is going to be an effective starter in 2013, and even if they could, depth at cornerback would still be a priority. In Trufant, you get a player who will make your secondary better regardless of where the needs are, because Trufant can do it all -- slot or outside, man or zone, you're going to get an effective talent. Needs at linebacker can be addressed further down the board. Trufant makes sense here, and the value fits the slot.

49. Sio Moore
POS: LB
SCHOOL: Connecticut
HT: 6-0
WT: 245

KIPER: If you got Trufant or (Manti) Te'o in the first, then you could go either Sio Moore, who could be a middle linebacker in their scheme, or an outside backer, but he's got great versatility... or you could take a corner, whether it be Robert Alford from Southeastern Louisiana, whether it be a Jamar Taylor from Boise State. And then they could look in the third round for a defensive end like Alex Okafor from Texas would be a guy at that point, (or) Sam Montgomery, LSU.

You could look at that point, guys that could get after the quarterback. A guy that is very underrated is Lavar Edwards from LSU. He should not take a backseat to anybody that's going in that third, fourth-round discussion. Lavar Edwards is a very underrated player out of LSU, played in the shadow of (Barkevious) Mingo and Montgomery. Those would be some defensive ends for the third round. So if you've got the middle linebacker or linebacker overall or corner in the first two rounds, then you could look at a defensive end in the third.

OUR ANALYSIS: The Giants definitely have a need at corner not just for this season for depth but for the future with Corey Webster's and Aaron Ross' futures up in the air after this season. Thomas is attempting a third comeback from an ACL injury so any contribution he makes this season should be viewed as a bonus. Outside of Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley, the Giants don't have any other young corners for the future. Webster and Amukamara are the considered the starters for this season. Trufant would really allow them to prepare for 2014 if Webster and Ross are not brought back.

With all that said, the Giants' greatest needs entering this draft are at pass rusher, offensive line, secondary and linebacker. I really believe the Giants need to come away with a young pass rusher with one of their high picks for the future. Osi Umenyiora is gone and Justin Tuck is entering the final year of his deal. The Giants need another defensive end to groom and Kiper points out a few interesting candidates they could look at in the second or third round if they do not go pass rusher at 19.

Kiper is also correct in that the Giants can add a linebacker later if they pass on one at 19. Considering how the Giants don't use first-round picks on linebackers, Jerry Reese certainly could look for a linebacker later in the draft. It remains to be seen whether Trufant will be the best player available on his board at 19. Value-wise, I wonder if the Giants are better off taking a defensive end at 19. Of course, we have to see who will be there at 19.

So, let's hear what you think of Trufant and Giants going linebacker and perhaps defensive end in the second and third rounds.

When Aaron Ross left last year in free agency to join Jacksonville, the cornerback told Jerry Reese he would be ready to return to the Giants when his contract was up.

"When I signed with the Jags ... I told him I had a three-year contract and as soon as it’s over, I’ll be ready to come back home," Ross told Giants.com. "That three-year contract ended a little earlier than I thought."

So when Reese called, Ross jumped at the opportunity to return to the Giants. On Thursday, the team officially announced the signing of Ross, who is back on a one-year deal.

Ross is a welcome addition since the Giants need depth and experience at corner with Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley and Terrell Thomas (who is attempting a third comeback from a right ACL injury) on the roster. The Giants' 2007 first-round pick should compete to be the team's third corner.

The Giants still might sign another veteran cornerback or draft one in April. But they didn't waste much time in bringing back an old familiar face.

“It’s great to be back,” Ross said. “Words can’t explain. I’m very excited to be back here ... It’s home. I was here for five years, this is where my career started, two Super Bowl rings. All my brothers are here, all the coaches are here. It just felt like home. I was ready to come back home."

Tell us what you think of Ross returning and what the Giants should do next to strengthen the secondary.

Free agency barely had begun and Martellus Bennett was off to Chicago for a four-year, $20 million deal, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports.

It's possible that the three top free agents the Giants wanted back were LT Will Beatty, LG Kevin Boothe and Bennett.

They locked up Beatty before free agency began and are still trying to bring back Boothe. But Bennett is now gone.

So what now that the Black Unicorn is gone after just one season?

Well, it's not like the Giants don't have experience trying to find a new tight end. Eli Manning must feel like there's a revolving door at the position. Manning has lost Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and now Bennett all in successive years.

The Giants don't value the tight end position enough to invest big money -- and certainly not $20 million -- in that position. They've seen they have had success with three different players there in recent years and probably figure that they will be able to do the same again. They wanted Bennett back but within a reasonable price.

So what's next for the Giants? They have the solid Bear Pascoe, who can do a little bit of everything but is most valued as a blocker.

There's Adrien Robinson, the 6-4 tight end the Giants drafted in the fourth round out of Cincinnati. Remember, Jerry Reese likened him to the "JPP of tight ends" due to his raw athleticism. Robinson, though, didn't get a catch last season and might still be a project to develop. We have to wait and see how he progresses in the offseason.

The Giants also have Larry Donnell, a 6-6 tight end who was a reserve/futures player.

Reese very well could look to sign a cheap veteran free agent to fill the starting job. Tight ends were going fast and furious in free agency on Tuesday but the market could slow down and perhaps the Giants will find one for cheap later.

Reese could also draft a tight end in April. Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert and Stanford's Zach Ertz are the two top tight ends and could both be available when the Giants pick at 19. I could be wrong but my guess is the Giants will use their first pick on a pass rusher, defensive lineman, offensive lineman, cornerback or even linebacker before they go tight end that early. That just goes back to which positions they value.

That doesn't mean they might not draft a tight end later in the draft. One guy to keep an eye on is Michigan State's 6-5 Dion Sims, a big tight end who has good receiving ball skills and is a former basketball player. A source said the Giants were interested in Sims at the scouting combine last month.

Losing Bennett is tough because he was a young player with potential and should have only gotten better with more time with Manning. But, if anybody knows how to start over at tight end, it's the Giants.

The blueprint should be to find a young tight end with good size, soft hands, decent route running skills and can be a capable enough blocker to stay on the field on multiple downs.

Ross and Torain return: The Giants also brought back cornerback Aaron Ross and re-signed running back Ryan Torain for one-year deals. Ross is a good pickup considering the Giants need as much depth and experience as they can get at the cornerback position. He should be able to compete with Jayron Hosley for the third corner role. Torain provides good depth and experience at running back for cheap.

Tell us what you want to see the Giants do at tight end.

Teams can begin negotiating with the agents of free agents tonight at midnight.

The Giants reportedly have around $10 million in cap space thus far. They still could create more room if they restructure more deals or cut other players. The Giants will focus on re-signing many of their own free agents and restricted free agents. Remember, the Giants want to be responsible with their salary cap, try to sign young stars like Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz to long-term deals and see what some of their young unproven players on the roster can do with opportunities.

Keep that in mind as we take a look at some free agent names that are available at positions of need for the Giants.

CORNERBACK

Corey Webster agreed to a pay cut and reduced his base salary from $7 million to $1.25 million for this coming season according to the NFLPA website. Webster struggled last year but the Giants don't have much depth or experience after Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley. Terrell Thomas is attempting to return from a third ACL injury. That is why the Giants need to add some corners. According to ESPN's free agent tracker and grading, Chris Gamble, Antoine Cason, Brent Grimes, Quentin Jammer, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Aqib Talib, Sean Smith, Adam Jones and Tracy Porter are among some of the top corners available. Gamble is intriguing. But considering their cap space and how they want to re-sign their own free agents like Kevin Boothe and Martellus Bennett, the Giants might be more in the market for backup cornerbacks for depth unless they can get somebody good at a reasonable price. Former Giant Aaron Ross was also released by Jacksonville on Friday.

TIGHT END

What happens if the Giants can't re-sign Bennett? It's hard imagining the Giants investing a lot of money in the tight end position since they have filled that spot with Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and Bennett in the past few seasons. The Giants probably wouldn't spend the money to land a free agent like Jared Cook. But there are some intriguing tight end names out there if Bennett bolts. Dustin Keller, Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Boss and Brandon Myers are among the free agents. Remember, the Giants likely won't spend a lot on a tight end and they would ideally want a guy on the rise, one who can block and catch. That's why re-signing Bennett within a reasonable price is important.

DEFENSIVE END

The Giants can use another pass rusher since Osi Umenyiora is a free agent and will be looking to test the market. Free agent defensive ends include Cliff Avril, Dwight Freeney, Michael Bennett, Glenn Dorsey, John Abraham, Matt Shaughnessy, Ty Warren and Israel Idonije. The Giants could add a veteran pass rusher at a reasonable cost but it probably makes more sense to draft one in April.

LINEBACKER

This is another position where the Giants might not invest a ton of money into. Rey Maualuga, Nick Barnett, Daryl Smith, Paul Kruger and Larry Foote are among the free agent linebackers. The Giants could sign a cheap veteran and/or just bring back their own free agent linebackers -- Chase Blackburn and Keith Rivers -- at a low cost. Drafting a linebacker is a possibility.

SAFETY

The Giants are expected to tender RFA Stevie Brown. Kenny Phillips is a free agent and the Giants likely would want him back for the right price. If Phillips moves on, the Giants may feel the need to add one more veteran safety to join Antrel Rolle and Brown with youngsters Will Hill and Tyler Sash behind them. ESPN's Josina Anderson reported that the Giants expressed interest in Charles Woodson. The safety free agent market is deep with names like Ed Reed, Adrian Wilson, Woodson, LaRon Landry and Dawan Landry out there. The Giants already have a lot of money tied into Rolle so it might not make sense to pay big bucks long term for another safety.

OFFENSIVE LINE

If Boothe signs elsewhere, the Giants will need a guard or tackle even if they opt to start James Brewer and/or David Diehl at left guard and right tackle. This is one of the areas that the Giants would invest money in but likely nothing outrageous after investing up to $38.75 million in Will Beatty. Free agents include Jake Long, Phil Loadholt, Sebastian Vollmer, Eric Winston, Andre Smith, Jammal Brown, Gosder Cherilus, Andy Levitre, Ramon Foster, and Kory Lichtensteiger among others. A young guy with potential like Donald Thomas might make sense if Boothe leaves. The Giants also might try to add some veterans at a low price like they did with Sean Locklear last season and they could draft a lineman in April as well.

We’ve been taking a look toward 2013 with a position-by-position breakdown of the Giants leading into the scouting combine and free agency.

So far, we have analyzed quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line and linebacker. Today is the secondary.

SECONDARY

2012 depth chart: CB Corey Webster, CB Prince Amukamara, CB Jayron Hosley, CB Justin Tryon, CB Terrence Frederick, S Antrel Rolle, S Kenny Phillips, S Stevie Brown, S Will Hill, S Tyler Sash.

Overview: The Giants lost cornerbacks Terrell Thomas, Bruce Johnson and Brian Witherspoon to injuries before the season started. Michael Coe also was placed on IR and later waived during the season. Webster, the team’s top corner on the depth chart, got off to a slow start in the season opener against Dallas, and his struggles continued throughout the season all the way through an incredibly difficult game at Baltimore, where he was targeted often. Webster battled through a broken hand early in the season, but he never was able to shake off his struggles in coverage. Amukamara was solid in his first season as a starter and performed like the team’s best corner. Hosley, the team’s third-round pick, was pushed into action quicker than expected and had his ups and downs. Rolle had 96 combined tackles and two interceptions. Rolle covered slot receivers again at times this season due to injuries. Phillips only played in seven games, as he was slowed by a knee injury. That allowed Brown to emerge as one of the biggest surprises of the season. Originally kept on the team as a backup and special teams contributor, Brown led the team with eight interceptions for 307 yards and became a starter. Hill showed flashes of his athleticism in stints as the team’s third safety.

Free agents: Phillips, Brown (restricted free agent), Tryon.

2013 personnel preview: Much of the 2013 outlook will be impacted by Webster’s future. The Giants hope Amukamara will continue to ascend and play like their top corner this coming season. Hosley got valuable experience as a rookie but might not be ready to start full-time on the outside. He might be best suited for now as a slot corner or an extra cornerback while he continues to progress. The Giants need more speed, athleticism, experience and depth at cornerback. The Giants could sign some free agent corners and possibly draft one as well. It remains to be seen what will happen with Phillips but Brown, who is expected to return, could be the starter opposite Rolle at safety. The Giants could bring Phillips back and have three starting safeties, but it would likely have to be at the right price since they need to re-sign free agents like Will Beatty, Kevin Boothe and Martellus Bennett. The Giants came to a new one-year deal with Thomas, who will be attempting a third comeback from a right ACL injury. If Thomas can make his way back onto the field, that would be a bonus regardless of whether he plays cornerback or safety. The Giants should and likely will take it slow with Thomas. Hill and Sash could fill the third safety spot.

Salary cap situation: Webster is entering the final year of his contract worth $7 million in base salary. Considering how the Giants have been slashing payroll to create cap space, Webster has been a name mentioned often as a potential cap casualty or as a candidate to restructure a new deal. The Giants, though, don’t have enough depth at corner at the moment and releasing Webster would leave an even bigger hole. The Giants, though, will need money to sign or draft more corners. Rolle isn’t expected to go anywhere, but he could be a potential candidate to restructure with $7 million in base salary coming this season. Phillips is a free agent and Brown will be a restricted free agent. The Giants are expected to tender Brown if a new deal is not agreed upon.

Tell us what you think of the Giants’ secondary going into 2013 and what you want to see happen in the offseason.

New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese has a reputation as a shrewd handler of the NFL draft. We are about to find out whether he deserves it.

Reese himself would tell you that the Giants look at the draft in a very specific way. They do not view it as an annual opportunity to make big-splash, instant-impact additions to the following season's team. The Giants use the draft as a means of crafting and maintaining a deep roster that can regenerate itself with players who have spent time developing in their system.

The cuts this week of championship mainstays Ahmad Bradshaw, Michael Boley and Chris Canty signal a time of such regeneration. The Giants make these moves -- and likely more cuts to come -- with the hope that the replacements for these players are already in their locker room. The extent to which that turns out to be the case will help determine just how good Reese's past few drafts have been.

The likely replacements for Bradshaw are David Wilson (first round, 2012) and Andre Brown (fourth round, 2009). Assuming they re-sign Brown coming off his broken leg, they'll find out whether that tandem can effect a smooth transition from the Bradshaw/Brandon Jacobs era at running back. Brown is a guy to whom they kept giving chances until he blossomed as a power runner in 2012. Wilson is the guy they said was at the top of their running back board in last year's draft. Were they telling the truth? Or did Tampa Bay outfox them by trading up to steal Doug Martin one pick earlier? It appears as though Wilson will get a good chance in 2013 to show whether he was indeed the right man for the Giants job.

Canty is a tough loss in the middle of the defensive line. And while Linval Joseph (second round, 2010) has already proved himself a reliable starter at defensive tackle, the Giants will hope this is the year that Marvin Austin (second round, 2011) blossoms into the interior pass-rusher they envisioned when they drafted him off his suspension season at North Carolina. That Austin pick has a chance to look really good if the young man rebounds from the two years in which he didn't see the field, but if he doesn't, the Giants will need to find more depth at that position.

Boley's most likely replacement at outside linebacker is Jacquian Williams (sixth round, 2011), who was a big help during the the most recent Super Bowl run and now likely gets a chance to show what he can do as an NFL starter. The Giants don't place a very high priority on the linebacker position, and if Williams blossoms as a starter out of the sixth round, he'll make that particular part of their strategy look pretty good.

There are other spots at which change is or could be coming. The Giants are almost certain to bid farewell, for instance, to defensive end Osi Umenyiora. And while Jason Pierre-Paul (first round, 2010) might already have taken Umenyiora's starting job, the Giants are eager to learn whether Pierre-Paul can be the relentless quarterback predator he was in 2011 and anchor their pass rush for years to come, or whether his more pedestrian 2012 season is what they should expect.

If they cut cornerback Corey Webster, is Prince Amukamara (first round, 2011) ready to cover the other team's No. 1 wide receiver on a regular basis? And is Jayron Hosley (third round, 2012) good enough to be a starter, or is he just a nickel corner? Can Rueben Randle (second round, 2012) and/or Jerrel Jernigan (third round, 2011) emerge as a playmaker and help make their wide receiver decisions on Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz less pressure-packed? Is tackle James Brewer (fourth round, 2011) ready to take his role as part of the offensive line rebuild?

Lots of questions with many potential answers for the Giants as they begin what appears to be an offseason makeover of some significance. This is the way they like to operate -- stocking their roster with talented young players they like, and working to help them be ready when opportunity arrives. It's why they believe in continuity on the coaching staff, and why they believe they can spend to the cap each year without having to pound the free-agent market too hard.

It is possible that the answers to the Giants' roster questions lie in the early and middle rounds of these past few drafts, and if they do, Reese's reputation as a master of the draft will be fortified by on-field results. If they do not, the Giants might find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to alter their strategy and find some quick fixes for their holes next offseason. Reese and the Giants generally received high marks for the drafts they had in recent years. But with all of these veterans headed out of town, now's the time when we find out just how good those drafts really were.

A year ago, the Giants were preparing to play in the Super Bowl and going through everything the Ravens and 49ers are experiencing this week.

So with it being Super Bowl week, we are exploring five things the Giants need to do to get back to the Super Bowl next year. So far, we’ve explored how the Giants have to fortify their offensive line and how they should add more speed to combat the option and prolific offenses.

Today, we look at how the Giants must fix their defense.

The numbers: The Giants finished 31st in total defense, 28th against the pass and 25th against the run. They did finish 13th overall in points allowed (21.5).

The defense also allowed 48 plays of 25 yards or longer against them this past season.

The breakdown: The Giants defense had its moments when it came up big like it did in victories over Carolina, San Francisco and Green Bay.

But the defense couldn’t finish strong in close losses to the Eagles, Steelers and Redskins. And Perry Fewell’s unit was routed by the Bengals, Falcons and Ravens -- the latter two losses costing the Giants a playoff spot.

Fewell had some veterans who did not play up to the level that they did during the Super Bowl run, such as cornerback Corey Webster. The Giants struggled to stop the run in 2011, but got better when it mattered during their postseason run. This season, the Giants struggled to stop the run and couldn’t get enough pressure on quarterbacks.

The Giants’ sack numbers dipped from 48 to 33 last season. The Giants were a plus-14 in turnovers, however.

After his breakout season, Jason Pierre-Paul finished with just 6.5 sacks. Osi Umenyiora had six sacks and Justin Tuck had just four sacks.

With Umenyiora wanting more money and a starting spot likely elsewhere and Tuck entering the final year of his deal, the Giants can use another pass rusher and could draft one in April.

They’ll need Chris Canty to get his knee healthier. And they can use another defensive tackle to emerge to help Linval Joseph and Canty. Marvin Austin awaits his opportunity and Markus Kuhn showed flashes before he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

The linebackers unit could see change in the offseason. Chase Blackburn and Keith Rivers are unrestricted free agents. And Michael Boley, who saw his snaps reduced toward the end of the season, is entering the final year of his deal.

The Giants have to add more depth in the secondary at corner where they suffered season-ending injuries to Terrell Thomas, Bruce Johnson and Brian Witherspoon early. They need Webster, who is entering the final year of his deal, to bounce back. Prince Amukamara was solid when healthy and Jayron Hosley gained some valuable experience in his rookie season.

Antrel Rolle remains a key cog in the defense and Stevie Brown emerged as a potential starter in 2013 with Kenny Phillips entering free agency. Will Hill also showed glimpses of what he can do.

The Giants still need to add speed, depth and more athleticism to the defense all around. And they have to simply play better.

This is the same defense and same defensive coordinator that won a Super Bowl just one year ago. And if the defense had played better late in any of the losses to the Redskins, Steelers or Eagles, the Giants would've been playoff bound. If they had shown up in Baltimore or Atlanta, the Giants might've been able get into the postseason as well.

If the Giants are going to get back to the Super Bowl, they need Fewell and his players to regain that all-in mentality, steady and clutch play that they had when they won their final six games last year. And they need to add a few more pieces to a core that knows what it takes to get to the Super Bowl.

Tell us what you think needs to improve on defense for the Giants to return to the Super Bowl.

This week we are rolling out some Giants top five lists.

So far, we have taken a look at five Giants leaders, the five biggest base salaries on the roster, five Giants injuries to monitor in the offseason, and five bounce-back candidates.

Now we examine five Giants who could have a breakout season in 2013, with more playing time and a bigger role. All these players have three years of experience or less.

1. RB David Wilson –- Wilson came on strong late in the 2012 season, with 230 of his 358 rushing yards coming in three of the last four games. He started two of the last three and gave the Giants a glimpse of what he can do as a No. 1 back. GM Jerry Reese said Wilson can carry the load of being a starter.

2. WR Rueben Randle –- The Giants’ second-round pick last year also came on late in the season, with four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns in his only start, against the Eagles in the season finale. Domenik Hixon is reliable and can make some big catches, but it may be time to see what Randle can do as the team's full-time third wide receiver.

3. RT James Brewer -– Reese and the coaching staff talked quite a bit about Brewer before training camp last year. The 2011 fourth-round pick may be in the mix to start at right tackle in 2013. David Diehl is entering the final year of his contract, and left tackle Will Beatty is a free agent. It might be time to see if Brewer is ready for a bigger role.

4. DE Adrian Tracy –- Tracy has played both linebacker and defensive end, and could see more snaps this coming season depending on what happens with Osi Umenyiora and what the Giants do in free agency and the draft. Umenyiora sounds ready to move on, and the Giants need another young pass rusher to provide a spark. Tracy had four tackles and a sack in the win over the 49ers last season.

5. MLB Mark Herzlich/OLB Spencer Paysinger –- These two linebackers are entering their third seasons, and they could be in store for increased playing time. Chase Blackburn and Keith Rivers are unrestricted free agents, and Michael Boley saw his snaps reduced in the final two games of the season. Perhaps the Giants think their young trio of linebackers -- Jacquian Williams, Herzlich and Paysinger -- are ready for bigger roles?

Honorable mention: S Will Hill, DT Marvin Austin, CB Jayron Hosley, DE Adewale Ojomo, WR Jerrel Jernigan, TE Adrien Robinson.

Tell us who you think is ready for a breakout season in 2013 below.

As the playoffs move into the conference championship weekend, we take a look at five games that cost the Giants an opportunity to defend their title in the postseason.

The Giants finished 9-7 this season but needed one more win to get back into the playoffs. Today, we examine the their 34-0 loss in Atlanta in Week 15.

What went wrong: What didn't go wrong?

On the second play of the game, Eli Manning was picked off by Asante Samuel, who returned it to the Giants’ 16. Four plays later, the Falcons scored to go up 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.

The Giants couldn't do anything right after that. Lawrence Tynes missed a 30-yard field goal, the offense was stopped on fourth down three times and the defense was never able to make Matt Ryan uncomfortable.

Turning point: You could easily say it was Manning's interception at the start of the game or Tynes' early miss that set the tone for the Giants.

But you can also make an argument that Julio Jones' 40-yard touchdown catch on rookie Jayron Hosley sealed the game. Even though the Giants were shut out in the first half, they only trailed 17-0 and there was still hope for a second-half comeback.

But Jones ran past Hosley for a touchdown with 11:31 remaining in the third quarter to put the game out of reach and completely deflate the Giants.

Giant regret: The Giants could not convert on three third-and-shorts in the first half.

On a third-and-3 at the Falcons' 12, Manning threw an incomplete pass to Domenik Hixon. Tynes then missed his 30-yard attempt.

In the second quarter, the Giants had a third-and-2 at the Falcons' 33 when Kregg Lumpkin gained just one yard on a run. Tom Coughlin opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 with 6:08 left in the half, but David Wilson was stuffed for no gain.

Later, with 1:23 left, the Giants handed off to Lumpkin again on a third-and-1 on Atlanta's 11-yard-line but were stopped for no gain. After a timeout with 1:14 left, Coughlin went for it again down 17-0 but Manning could not connect with Victor Cruz.

What if? The Giants were pretty much out of this game from the start. Coughlin had hoped his team would respond emotionally, not only because of its slim division lead and the potential playoff spot that was on the line, but also because this was the first game after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.

If they had taken care of business against a team they owned 24-2 in the wild card a season earlier, the Giants likely would be in the playoffs. Instead, the Giants lost sole possession of first place in the NFC East and eventually were on their way to missing the postseason.

Tell us where you think the Atlanta debacle ranks among the Giants' most costly losses of the season below.